Retuck end-closing carton



Aug. 13, 1935. J. WEISS 0,

Q RETUCK END CLOSING CARTON Filed Jan. 2, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 55 INVENTOR, flrl/zurJWezss,

Aug 13, 1935. A. J. WEISS 2,010,972

- RETUCK END CLOSING CARTON Filed Jan. 2, 1934 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V INVENTOR, Jrifiarzlilezas MM D ATI'DRNEYQ Patented Aug. 13, 1935 RETUCK END-CLOSING CARTON Arthur J. Weiss, St. Albans, N. Y., assignor to Robert Gair Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application January 2, 1934, Serial No 104,903

15 Claims. (c1. 229-17) The present invention relates to cartons made of paper board or the like, and has for its principal object the provision of a carton, made from a single blank, which can be shipped knockeddown, or fiat to the manufacturer in partly assembled condition, thereafter to be filled with goods by the manufacturer and finally sealed. Thereafter the consumer can open the package along predetermined, perforated and scored lines, to obtain access to the interior of the carton and to form a retuck closure flap, and in other instances to form a series of flap closable openings of successive increasing areas, these being formed out of the over-folded and sealed end closing flaps.

The closing flaps appurtenant to each successive opening may be reclosed, and are held in reclosed position by the outer reclosable end tuck flap.

These and other capabilities will be apprehended as the herein description proceeds,

. Fig-12' shows one end of a carton blank of anoth'eifi'form of a carton end;

Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive, disclose the blank of Fig. 1 set up to form a rectangular carton, in end views, and indicate the successive steps of closing the flaps inwardly, to finally seal the cartonend; Figs. '7 to 9 inclusive, disclose the blank of Fig.

fi set up to form a rectangular carton, in end views, disclosing the successive steps of closing the end fiaps inwardly to finally seal the carton end;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragment of one of the outer flaps illustrating, in detail, a preferred form of cut or perforated scoring;

Figs. 11 to 15 inclusive, are end views of the carton formed from the blank of Fig. 1, illustrating the successive steps of breaking out the successive, access end flaps, and reclosing and retucking the same;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged, fragmentary, traversing sectional view, taken on line l6--i6, Fig. 15,1ooking the direction of the arrows, showing the end reclosure details;

Figs. 17, 18, 20 and 22 inclusive, illustrate the successive steps of opening and reclosing the access end flaps of tlfe blank of Fig. 2;

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary sectional view of Fig.

18, taken on the line I0--l,9, looking in the direction of the arrays; and

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2l'2l, Fig. 20, looking in the direction of the arrows.

In both blanks. as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, only one set of end closing flaps is shown, and it is understood that the opposite end of the carton, not shown, may have similar or unlike, end closing flaps, to complete the carton structures. 10

In Fig. 1, the cartonblank is shown broken away at one end, but in its entirety it comprises a series of connected wall forming panels i, 2, 3

and 4, defined from each other by score lines 8, l and 8. Panel I has a glue lap 5, defined therefrom 15 by score line 9. This glue lap is glued on its shown face and, when the carton panels are bent on their score lines to carton form, is affixed to the underface edge of side wall panel 4, as at 5, Fi 3, for instance. v 2

Panels and 3 may be called front wall panels, while panels 2 and 4 may be called side wall panels.

Panel I at one edge has an end closing flap l l defined therefrom by score line [0, and this flap 25 is provided with a printed on triangular glue resist zone 46 which flares outwardly from score line I0, and is bounded on both outer edges by score lines 20-20, which run from the outer edges of flap ll, inwardly to and ending at a curved re 30 tuck slit l9, which traverses the inner short section of the glue resist zone 46. The flap ll, further, has a deep pouring indent l6 cut in its midportion from its outer edge, and at the deepest portion of the indent IS a slit l5 commences and ends at the curved slit is, thus cutting or dividing the resist zone into two triangular sub-flaps CC, which are hingedly scored oil the glue sub-flaps D-D by the score lines 20-20. As will later be seen, these two scored sub fiaps C--C act as inner 4o closure flaps and to form a major pouring opening, when bent outwardly on their score lines 2020, and the indent l6 acts as a minor pouring spout, when the sub-panels CC are not utilized.

Side panel 2 has ashort triangular end 0165- 45 ing fiap l2, the triangular edge a of which, when the fiap I2 is inbent in carton forming position,

registers with one of the score lines 20, as partly indicated in Fig. 3, when the end flap 1 I is superposed thereover.

Front or main panel 3 has an end closing flap generally denoted by l3, and defined from panel 3 by score line I 0, the outer edge of which is so cut as to define a round nosed tab end l8, the

ends of whichmerge with two angu'larly disposed cut-score lines ||-|1, which terminate at score line H), thus forming a tear out tuck flap A, and two end closing sub-flaps B-B. When the carton end is normally closed the flaps A-B-B are unbroken and act as a single, end closing flap until tuck flap A is broken out, to gain access to the carton interior.

Side forming panel 4 is also provided, like side forming panel 2, with a short, triangular shaped end closing flap l4, the outer edge b being cut at an angle so that when end closing flap I4 is infolded, said edge b registers with the other score line 20 on end closing flap about as indicated in Fig. 3, when fiap II is overfolded on flaps l2 and |4.'

After the carton has been erected from its flat condition, and filled with goods, the carton ends of Fig. 1 are closed in the following order; side 1 end fiaps I2 and I4 are first turned in as in Fig. 3, leaving fiaps II and I3 extended, as in Figs.-3 and 4. Then end fiap .II is turned in 'over end flaps I2 and I4, the outer face of fiap I I being glued, as shown by stippling at 41, Fig. 5. Due to the triangular glue resist printed on the zone 46, of flap II, when end fiap I3 is finally over-.

folded and glued down on end flap end flap I3 is firmly attached to end flap only at the portions 41-41, Fig. 5, so that the final sealing of end flap I3 to end fiap leaves the tear out tuck fiap A free of glue attachment to end flap resist zone 46 of end flap II, but firmly connects sub-flaps BB of end flap l3 to sub-flaps D-D of end flap As thus sealed, the carton of Fig. 1 blank is ready for reclosable opening, as follows; as in Figs. 11 and 12, the rounded, contoured tab end I8 of tuck fiap A is seized by the fingers and pulled upwardly, this tears and separates the tuck flap A from its associate, glued down subfiaps B-B, along the perforated lines of weakened resistance I'I-l I, leaving tuck flap A hinged to front panel 3 at score line I, as in Fig. 11.

- This tear-out action exposes the glue resist zone 46 on end. flap and the two reclosing sub-panels C-C with their jointly formed, minor pouring orifice or indent l6, as at 52, Fig. 11. If the material or goods packed in the carton is sufficiently pulverulent and fine to fiow readily from the pouring orifice 52, sub-flaps CC are left undisturbed.

If however, the material within the carton, is bulky and does not flow readily from the orifice 52, then the sub-flaps 0-0, as in Figs. 13 and 14 are bent up, outwardly from the carton end, on their score Hnes 23-20, thus enlarging the pour- 1 ing orifice as at 53, Fig. 13.

After sufficient of the materialhas been removed from the carton, sub-flaps CC are closed, tuck flap A is restored to its closing position as in Fi 15 and its curved nose I8 is introduced into tuck slit IS in end flap H, this being fully shown, slightly enlarged, in the sectional view of Fig. 16.

As thus described, the carton of the blank of Fig. 1, pro des plural openings usable at will, which are 3' ntly and positively closed by a sin gle tuck flap The carton f the blank of Fig. 2, while slightly modified over that of Fig. 1,'functions along 'the same lines and will now be described.

The blankof Fig. 2 comprises front wall and side wall forming panels 2|, 22, 23, and 24, defined from each other by score lines 26, 27 and 28.

Front wall panel 2| has a glue lap 25 defined therefrom by score line 29, which is glued to the underfaced edge of side panel 24, as in Fig. 7,

at 25, thus to form the foldable rectangular carton body.

I Front wall panel 2| has an end flap 3| defined therefrom by a score line 30. End flap 3| has printed thereon a glue resist zone 44, as in Fig. 1, the outline of this zone being contoured to register-With the outlines of the tear-out tuck flap E on end fiap 33. End flap 3|, further has a retuck slit 39 located near score line 30. End flap 3| also has two triangular indents 40-40 in its outer front edge, these indents being spacedfrom the opposite side edges and each merging with a perforated line of weakened resistances 35-35, which extend to and terminate at the score line '30, thus forming two glue laps J-J and a subend flap H, with pouring indent 36 on its front edge.

Side panel 22 has an end flap 32, defined therefrom by score line 30, which has its front edge cut away, as at 4|, to later form, with its coacting end flap 34, apouring orifice. End flap 32 also has a printed on glue resist zone 45 which terminates at a score line 42, leaving a glue zone L between the parallel score lines 30 and 42.

Front wall panel 23 has an end forming fiap 33, defined therefrom by score line 30, the outer, front end of said panel being so cut as to delineate acurved finger tab 38 at its mid-section, the said finger tab cut merging with two out or perforated lines of weakened resistance 31-31, which in turn terminate in two out or perforated lines of weakened resistance 43-43, which latter lines are spaced away from but are parallel to the side edges of end fiap 33, and in turn form two glue laps G-G, which, when the carton end is closed, register with the cut lines and glue sections JJ of end flap 3|.

Side forming panel 24 has an end forming flap 34 defined therefrom by score line 30, said flap being, like fiap 32, provided with a printed on glue resist zone-45. End flap 34 also has a cut out indent 4| in its front edge forming, with the indent 4| of end fiap 32, a coacting portion of a pouring orifice when the carton ends are closed. End flap 34 also has a score line 42 spaced away from and parallel to score line 30, leaving a glue zone L between score lines 30 and 42.

To close the carton of the blank of Fig. 2, as in Fig. 7, the two side end-fiaps 32 and 34 are first turned in and are glued on their top faces, and due to the action of the glue resist zones 45-45, glue only remains on the sections L-L between score lines 30 and 42, as at the stippled zones 48-48, Fig. 7. The two side end fiaps thus jointly form an intermediate sized pouring orifice 4|. Then front Wall flap 3| is turned in onto flaps 32 and 34 and afiixed thereto. Glue is then applied to the top surface of flap 3|, and, due to the glue resist zone 44, glue adheres only on the non-resist zones as indicated in Fig. 8, by

the stippling 49-49. Then front wall flap 33 is overfolded on flap 3| and adhered thereto, as in Fig. 9, finally completing the end closure of the carton.

As described, this closure leaves out score lines 43-43 superposed and in registry with cut score lines 35-35 nd these latter are both superposed over and in registry with score lines 42-42. The closure also causes superposed registry of the tear-- out retuck flap E with the glue zone 44 of end flap 3|; The closure, further provides for the superposed registry of the minor pouring orifice 35 over the intermediate sized pouring orifice 4|, and both of these are covered and sealed by the retuck flap E.

To open the carton of the blank of Fig. 2,

fice 4|, as at 55, Fig. 18. Thus sub-flap H is left If the contained material pours freely through the minor aperture, nothing further is done. If, however, the material does not fiow freely enough, then the panel H is grasped bythe fingers, through the aperture 36 and pulled upwardly, this tears out sub-flap H along its lines of weakened resistance 3535, and' also tears through the lines of weakened resistance 4343, and, as in Fig. 18, the sections G- -G and JJ are left in their glued in, closed and undisturbed position, but exposing the intermediate"sized pouring orias a secondary closure, hingedly attached at-score line 30 to its panel and carrying the subfiaps FF thereon.

If the material still does not pour freely from orifice 4|, then the end sub-flaps 32 and 34 are bent outwardly on their score lines 42-42, as in Figs. 2021, thus creating an amplified pouring orifice, as at 56, Fig. 20. Thus, while this latter outlined carton end functions substantially the same as the carton of the blank of Fig. 1, it has the added feature of providingan extra pouring orifice over that of Fig. 1, and it has three superposed, and successively amplified pouring orifices, the dimensions of which orifices are such that they successively overlap each other from the interior to the exterior openings and thereby cover each other in a sift proof manner.

After pouring out the desired amount of material from said carton, it is reclosed by first turning in the fiaps 32-34, then reclosing the sub-flap H, and, finally tucking the end 38 of the tuck flap into the tuck slit 39 in panel H of end flap 3|.

In Fig. there is disclosed a preferred form of cut-perforations for use in the herein mentioned lines of weakened resistances, and it is especially adaptable if the paper board used is a little heavier than usual, or where, as in Fig. 18, multiple lines of weakened resistance in the board are to be broken simultaneously. As in Fig. 10, this weakening consists of a series of sequentially arranged perforations and slits, for instance the out score lines 43, consist of a row of perforations 5| followed by a slit 50, and this is repeated along the perforated line. 1

It will thus be seen that the carton closures above described utilize all of the end flaps of the body of the carton to form coacting access means and a single retu'ck flap therefor.- It will also be noted that the successive pouring apertures are of such progressive dimensions from the outer to the inner orifices as to be, when sealed initially, substantially sift-proof. The carton is simple in structure, easy to seal and easy to open and reclose, as desired.

What I claim is: v

1. A carton including a closure flap having therein a-marginal indent whereby to provide a pouring orifice, said flap having therein a slit which extends from the indent, and a hinge line defining a portion of said flap adjacent the indent, said line cooperating with the slit, so that said portion may be swung to vary the size of the orifice.

2. A carton comprising a glued closure flap cover the orifice.

score lines so as to having in its margin an ident, said flap having a glue resisting portion marginal to the indent, a second flap covering the first flap and being attached on the glue, said covering fiap including a manipulating tab and having therein a severing score which registers with the outer boundary of said portion, said score being extended to the base of the tab, so that the latter may be grasped to sever the fiap along said score whereby to uncover the indent, said indent adapted to provide a pouring orifice.

3. A carton comprising a closure fiap having in its margin an indent to provide a pouring orifice, said flap having glue laps distant from the orifice and there being a. glueless strip marginal to the orifice; a second flap covering the first flap.

and the indent and having portions attached to said laps, said covering fiap having 'a section thereof displaceably engaging said strip and there being severing, scores disposed between said portions and saidjsection, and a manipulating tab extending from said section, whereby on manipulation of said tab the flap may be severed along said scores so as to displace said section and un- 4. A carton according to claim 3, wherein the first mentioned flap is provided with a slit between said laps, said slit adapted to receive said tab in holding relation after the orifice is temporarily opened.

5. A carton including a closure flap having therein a marginal indent whereby to provide a pouring orifice, said flap having therein and extending from the indent a slit, and a score or hinge line disposed in said'fiap and cooperating with said slit, said'hinge line providing a subfiap marginal to the orifice, for enlarging the latter, saidindent being also adapted to receive the finger of a user, whereby to swing the subfiap outwardly.

6. A carton having an end closure including a flap having coacting sections, said sections having mating marginal indents therein whereby to piovide a pouring orifice, said sections having also therein and distant from the orifice hinge or provide sub-flap marginal to the orifice, and flaps removably covering said sections and the orifice, so that the orifice may be uncovered, said orifice adapted also to receive the fingers of a user grasping the sub-flaps to swing the latter outwardly whereby to enlarge the orifice.

7. A carton having an end closure including cooperating sections which form a flap, said sections having in their inner ends coacting marginal indents to provide an enlarged pouring orifice, said sections having glue laps thereon and there being a glue resisting portion marginal to the orifice; a second flap including laps which are attached to the first laps and there being an interposed portion disposed above and displaceably engaging the first portion, said interposed portion having therein a relatively small indent which forms a primary pouring orifice, and their being severing scores disposed between the aforesaid laps of the second mentioned fiap and said interposed portion; and a third flap removably covering the second mentioned flap, whereby on removal of said third flap the primary orifice may be uncovered, said latterorifice being also adaptposed portion may be gripped to sever the structure along said scores for displacing said interposed portion to uncover the enlarged orifice.

8. A carton having an end closure which ined to receive a finger of a user, whereby said intereludes an outer flap having a removable portion at one margin thereof; a second flap having in its margin below said portion a recess, whereby to provide a primary pouring orifice, said latter fiap having a removable portion marginal to the recess; a third flap having in its margin below the second mentioned portion an enlarged recess, whereby to provide a secondary orifice; and a removable portion disposed in said third fiap and positioned marginal to the associated recess, whereby to provide a further enlarged, main 9. A carton comprising an end closure which includes an outer fiap having a removable marginal portion, a tab extending from said portion for removing the latter; a second flap having in its margin below said portion a recess, whereby to provide a'primary pouring orifice, said latter fiap having a removable portion marginal to the recess; a third flap having in its margin below the second mentioned portion an enlarged recess, whereby to provide a secondary orifice, and removable portions provided in the third fiap and disposed marginal to the associated recess, whereby to provide a further enlarged or main orifice.

10. A carton comprising an end closure flap having in its margin an indent to provide a pouring orifice, said flap having therein a slit, another flap covering the first flap and adhesively attached thereto on opposite sides of the indent;

said second flap having a removable port-ion dis-- posed above the indent, and a manipulating tab integral with said portion and disposed above and extending beyond saidslit, whereby said tab may be manually grasped to remove said portion for opening the indent, said tab being adapted to be tucked into said slit so as to reclose the indent.

11. An end closure for a carton having rectangularly disposed walls, comprising a fiap having opposed outer glued portions and interposed coacting glueless portions, said flap being continuous with one of said walls and having between the glueless portions and adjoining the opposite wall a manipulating indent, said glueless portions having therebetween and extending from the indent a dividing line and there being a slit in said flap adjacent the first mentioned wall and to which slit said line extends; a second fiap continuous with said opposite wall and having thereon a marginal manipulating tab, said tab extending beyond said slit and said second mentioned fiap having its outer portions fixedly attached to said glued portions, said second flap having therein and extending from the base of said tab weakened lines so as to provide ajtearout tuck fiap, the latter being in registry with the glueless portions, so that said tab may be manually grasped to tear the structure along the weakened lines, whereby a finger of a user may be inserted in the indent to bend said coacting portions outwardly so as to provide a pouring orifice, said tab being adapted to be tucked into the slit so as to reclose said orifice and said indent.

12. A carton including an end closure flap having therein a marginal indent to provide a pouring orifice, said flap having on opposite sides of the indent glue strips and there being an interposed glueless portion which is marginal to the indent; a second flap having strips coactir in attached relation with the first strips and having an interposed portion removably covering the indent, and a manipulating tab carried by the second mentioned portion whereby to remove the latter so as to'open sai-d indent, said coacting strips adapted to rigidity the closure.

13. An end closure for a carton having opposed front walls and opposed end walls, comprising flaps of limited area which are turned inwardly from said side walls and provided on their outer portions with glue strips, said flaps providing a pouring orifice therebetween; a flap turned inwardly from one of said front wall and having outer portions attached on their under faces to said strips, said second flap having in its margin adjoining the opposite front wall a manipulatingindent and there being a glueless portion marginal to the indent, said second flap having on the upper faces of its outer portions glue strips, said glueless portion having therein and extending from the indent a dividing line so as to provide adjustable sub-flaps; and a cover flap turned inwardly from said opposite front wall and having its outer portions attached on the glue strips of said upper faces, said latter fiap having a removable section disposed above said glueless portion, and a manipulating-tab extending from said section, so that on manually grasping said tab said section may be removed, so that a finger of a user -may be placed in the indent whereby to move said sub-flaps and adjust the size of the pouring orifice, said respective glue strips adapted to reinforce the closure.

14. A carton comprising a flat end closure including a flap having therein a marginal pouring orifice, said flap providing a bendable margin which bounds at least one side of the orifice, and

- another flap having an outer portion adhesively engaging the first mentioned flap outside of said margin, said second flap having an inner portion removably covering the orifice and its margin, so that when said inner portion is removed said margin may be bent to enlarge the orifice.

15. A carton formed from a blank of paperboard comprising a substantially fiat end closure including a flap having therein a marginal indent to provide a primary pouring orifice, said fiap having therein and marginal to the indent a weakened line, and a second flap engaging the first flap and having a portion removably covering the indent and its margin, said indent adapted also to receive the finger of a user so that said margin maybe bent outwardly at said line to en-- large the orifice.

ARTHUR J. WEISS. 

